There has always been a lively debate as regards to wether red meat is good or bad for the health. (Red meat is any meat that is red before cooking it, i.e. pork, beef, lamb, venison etc.)

As butchers we of course believe lean red meat has got a number of very healthy factors.

The following essential vitamins and nutrients are but a few found in red meat:-

B Vitamins – essential to health and has a high presence in red meat. They are important for the release of energy from food. B vitamins help your body burn fat and are also essential for the nervous system.

Red meat is an essential source of iron, which is vital to good health as it helps make red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. In fact, no other food contains as much iron as red meat and it is broken down and absorbed by the body easier than iron in grains and vegetables.

Zinc – another essential nutrient found in red meat. Zinc is needed by the body to make insulin and is also good for healthy skin and hair but most importantly, it boosts your immune system.

That red meat is an important part of a balanced diet is clear. What may not be so clear is that the red meat you eat should be lean and well matured. That means it has little fat. At our butcher shop here in Fen Ditton Cambridge we can provide you with just that. We only sell beef that has been matured for 28 days which makes it lean and tender.

Our butchers expertly TRIM all the different cuts so it has little fat. So go to your local butchers and buy some lean red meat and ENJOY it!

FINALLY

And don’t forget, as a general rule – to eat (and drink) everything in moderation and you will stay healthy!

I know Christmas is next weekend but I thought I’d be organised and write down some ideas on what to do with your Christmas left overs, if you have any!!

Chicken, Bacon & Mushroom Pie

400g Cooked Turkey, Chicken or Cockerel cut into chunks

1 onion, chopped

100g cup mushrooms

200g smoked bacon

1 leek, chopped

Bunch of Tarragon, chopped

Block of puff pastry

small pot of cream

Instructions

Fry onions until soft. Add mushrooms and bacon and fry for a few minutes. Add the chicken and leek, then mix in cream and season. Finally, add the tarragon. Leave to simmer while you prepare the pastry. Put a thin layer of pastry in the bottom and up the sides of the pie dish. Spoon in the pie mix and spread evenly and cover with a circle of pastry. Bake for 30-35 min or until pastry is puffed and golden in oven preheated to 180C fan/200C no fan.

Serve on it’s own or with salad.

Turkey Curry (serves 4)

1-2 onion, finely chopped

600-800g Turkey (depending on apetite)

2-3 garlic cloves, pressed

1 green chilli, chopped (optional)

2 tsp turmeric

2 ground corriander

2 tsp cumin

2 tsp chilli powder

1-2 tsp salt

2 tsp garam masala

4 tsp tomato pure

cream

fresh corriander, chopped

Instruction

Fry onion, garlic and chilli for 1-2 min. Mix in turkey and after a couple of minutes add salt, turmeric, cumin, corriander and chilli powder and stir well. Add tomato pure and garam masala. Add the cream and simmer for a few minutes. Finally, add the fresh corriander and serve with your choice of rice and naan bread.